Emoji Permissions on Discord: Who Can Add/Delete?

By default, only server administrators can upload and manage emojis. Regular members, moderators, and most roles don't have emoji permissions unless explicitly granted. This restrictive default prevents unauthorized uploads but can create bottlenecks if you want community participation. Server owners and administrators with the "Manage Emojis and Stickers" permission can upload, delete, and modify emojis.

The "Manage Emojis and Stickers" permission is separate from general administrator permissions. You can grant this specific permission to roles without giving full admin access. This allows trusted members to manage emojis while maintaining security boundaries. The permission controls both emoji and sticker management—you can't separate them.

Server owners always have full emoji management permissions and can't be restricted. Even if you remove all permissions from the owner role, the server owner retains the ability to manage emojis. This is by design to prevent servers from becoming unmanageable if permissions are misconfigured. Only the server owner can transfer ownership, which is the only way to remove their permissions.

To allow non-admins to upload emojis, grant the "Manage Emojis and Stickers" permission to specific roles. Go to Server Settings → Roles, select the role you want to modify, scroll to the "Permissions" section, and enable "Manage Emojis and Stickers." Members with that role can then upload, delete, and modify emojis. This permission is all-or-nothing—you can't grant upload-only without delete permissions.

Create dedicated roles for emoji management rather than adding permissions to existing roles. A role like "Emoji Manager" or "Emoji Curator" makes it clear who has emoji permissions and allows you to grant or revoke access easily. You can assign this role to trusted members who understand emoji guidelines and will curate responsibly. This is cleaner than modifying moderator or admin roles that serve other purposes.

Consider tiered permission systems for large servers. You might have an "Emoji Contributor" role that can upload emojis but not delete them (though Discord doesn't support upload-only permissions, so this requires trust or manual oversight). Or create an "Emoji Moderator" role that can delete inappropriate emojis but not upload new ones (also not directly supported, requiring workarounds). For most servers, the all-or-nothing permission model works fine with careful role assignment.

Limit emoji permissions to trusted members who understand your server's guidelines. Don't grant emoji management to everyone—this leads to inappropriate uploads, emoji bloat, and quality issues. Start restrictive and grant permissions gradually as you identify responsible members. It's easier to add permissions than to clean up after bad uploads.

Document your emoji guidelines and share them with members who have upload permissions. Clear rules about what emojis are allowed, naming conventions, quality standards, and NSFW policies prevent problems before they happen. Members with permissions should understand these guidelines and agree to follow them. Written guidelines also provide justification if you need to revoke permissions from someone who violates rules.

Regularly audit who has emoji permissions. As your server grows and roles change, permissions can accumulate on inactive members or people who no longer need them. Review your role assignments quarterly and remove permissions from members who are inactive, no longer trusted, or no longer involved in emoji management. This reduces security risk and keeps your permission structure clean.

Discord's role hierarchy affects emoji permissions. Members with higher roles can manage emojis uploaded by members with lower roles, but not vice versa. If a moderator role is above a member role, moderators can delete emojis uploaded by members. However, members can't delete emojis uploaded by moderators. This hierarchy prevents lower-permission members from removing emojis uploaded by higher-permission members.

Role order matters when members have multiple roles. If someone has both a role with emoji permissions and a role without, they have emoji permissions. Discord uses the highest permission level across all roles. You can't use role order to create permission conflicts—if any role grants a permission, the member has it. This means you need to be careful about which roles you grant emoji permissions to, since members might have multiple roles.

Server owners and administrators can always manage all emojis regardless of who uploaded them. The hierarchy only affects non-admin members. If you want to prevent even admins from deleting certain emojis (like server identity emojis), you can't use permissions—you need to rely on guidelines and trust. Discord's permission system assumes admins have full control, which is generally the right assumption for server management.

Emoji permissions can be security risks if granted carelessly. Members with emoji permissions can upload inappropriate content, fill your emoji slots with spam, or delete important emojis. Only grant permissions to members you trust and who understand your server's content policies. Monitor emoji uploads regularly, especially when first granting permissions to new members.

NSFW emojis require special attention. Members with emoji permissions can upload NSFW emojis, but they must be marked NSFW and only used in age-restricted channels. If someone uploads an unmarked NSFW emoji or uses it in general channels, that's a policy violation. Make sure members with emoji permissions understand NSFW guidelines and the consequences of violations. Consider restricting NSFW emoji uploads to admins only if your server has strict content policies.

Emoji slots are limited resources. Members with upload permissions can fill your emoji slots, preventing you from adding new emojis. If you're near capacity, be especially careful about who can upload. You might temporarily restrict uploads to admins only until you audit and remove unused emojis. Or implement a request system where members suggest emojis but only admins upload them, preventing slot waste from low-quality uploads.

Many servers use request systems instead of open upload permissions. Members submit emoji requests through a channel, form, or bot, and admins review and upload approved emojis. This maintains quality control while allowing community input. Request systems prevent inappropriate uploads, ensure emojis meet quality standards, and prevent emoji slot waste from low-quality submissions.

Create a dedicated emoji request channel with clear submission guidelines. Require members to provide emoji files, suggested names, and use case descriptions. Use reactions or bot commands to vote on requests, helping prioritize popular suggestions. Admins review requests, check for quality and appropriateness, and upload approved emojis. This process takes longer than open uploads but maintains better control.

Bots can automate request workflows. Some Discord bots manage emoji requests, track approval status, and notify members when emojis are uploaded. These bots reduce admin workload and create structured processes for emoji additions. Search Discord bot lists for "emoji request" or "emoji manager" to find current options. Custom bots can also be built for specific server needs.

If someone misuses emoji permissions, revoke them immediately. Remove the role with emoji permissions from the member, or remove the permission from their role if it's role-specific. Discord permissions take effect immediately—once removed, the member can no longer upload or manage emojis. However, they can't delete emojis they already uploaded unless you have higher permissions than they did when uploading.

Audit emojis uploaded by members who had permissions revoked. Check for inappropriate content, policy violations, or quality issues. Remove any problematic emojis they uploaded. If they uploaded many emojis, review them systematically to ensure nothing inappropriate remains. This cleanup is important for maintaining server quality and preventing future issues.

Document why permissions were revoked for future reference. If the issue was minor (like uploading low-quality emojis), you might grant permissions again after discussion. If it was serious (inappropriate content, policy violations), document it so other admins know not to grant permissions again. Clear records help maintain consistent permission management across your admin team.

Start restrictive and expand gradually. Begin with only admins having emoji permissions. As you identify trusted members who understand guidelines and contribute quality emojis, grant them permissions. This conservative approach prevents problems while building a team of responsible emoji managers. It's easier to add permissions than to clean up after bad uploads.

Create clear guidelines before granting permissions. Document what emojis are allowed, naming conventions, quality standards, NSFW policies, and usage expectations. Share these guidelines with anyone who gets emoji permissions. Written guidelines prevent misunderstandings and provide justification for revoking permissions if someone violates rules. Update guidelines as your server's needs evolve.

Monitor emoji uploads regularly, especially from new permission holders. Check new emojis for quality, appropriateness, and compliance with guidelines. Provide feedback to members with permissions—positive reinforcement for good uploads, corrections for issues. This ongoing oversight maintains quality and helps members learn what makes good emojis for your server.

Use role-based permissions rather than individual user permissions when possible. Roles are easier to manage, audit, and understand. If you need to grant permissions to one person, create a role for them rather than modifying existing roles that affect many people. This keeps your permission structure organized and makes changes easier to track.

"I granted permissions but members still can't upload emojis" usually means the role doesn't have the permission enabled, or the member doesn't have that role assigned. Check Server Settings → Roles to verify the permission is enabled for the role, then check that the member actually has that role. Discord permissions can be confusing—double-check both the role settings and role assignments.

"Members can upload but not delete emojis" isn't possible with Discord's permission system. The "Manage Emojis and Stickers" permission is all-or-nothing—you can't separate upload and delete permissions. If you want upload-only access, you need to use a request system where members submit emojis but only admins upload them. Discord doesn't support granular emoji permissions.

"Someone deleted an emoji I wanted to keep" means they had emoji permissions and used them. To prevent this, either don't grant delete permissions to that person, or use role hierarchy so only higher-permission members can delete emojis uploaded by lower-permission members. However, if someone has emoji permissions, they can delete any emoji they have permission to manage. The only way to protect specific emojis is to not grant permissions to people who might delete them.

Review your emoji permissions quarterly. Check which roles have "Manage Emojis and Stickers" enabled. Verify that members with those roles are still active and trusted. Remove permissions from inactive members or people who no longer need them. Document any changes and the reasons for them. Regular audits keep your permission structure clean and secure.

Review emojis uploaded by non-admin members. Check for quality, appropriateness, and compliance with guidelines. Remove any problematic emojis and provide feedback to uploaders. This ongoing quality control maintains your emoji collection standards and helps members with permissions learn what works for your server.

Update emoji guidelines as your server evolves. If you change content policies, quality standards, or naming conventions, update your written guidelines and communicate changes to members with emoji permissions. Guidelines that don't match current practices create confusion and permission issues. Keep documentation current and accessible.